This Book Bewitched Me: A Review of Slewfoot by Brom

Hello, Book Nerds! Welcome back to Reading Has Ruined My Life or welcome if you are new. As always, my name is Hannah and I am your captain on this journey into my bookcases.

There has been something missing from my life for quite some time. That is my beloved: Gothic Literature. I read so many mystery and crime novels in March, I had my fix of romantasy as I read the majority of the ACOTAR series recently, and I even had a small taste of historical fiction. But none of my beloved. I unintentionally took a break from reading any and all horror, and now I’m ready to dive headfirst into the horror pool and submerge myself in the genre until I need to come back up for air.

So please give a warm welcome to today's read. Please welcome Slewfoot by Brom!

Synopsis time now. As always, a spoiler alert is in order. If you have read any other review on this site, then you know I love to spoil the entirety of the books I read. This is your one and only warning. Also, a quick content warning. Slewfoot features a witch trial and all the torture, both physical and mental, that comes with the topic. There is no avoiding this aspect of the story, so read at your own discretion. With that, let’s crack in.

Set in Connecticut in 1666, the small village of Sutton is about to lose its mind. The story follows Abitha Williams, an outsider in the community despite having lived there for two years. She doesn’t fully subscribe to the Puritan life, she’s loud, “vulgar,” and her mother taught her the ways to be a cunning woman. Yes, that’s right, Abitha has witch blood in her lineage.

Not a good thing for a Puritan woman in 1666.

Thankfully her husband Edward is a walking green flag and truly loves Abitha, faults and all. He’s always going to be there to protect her from the others in the community who think she’s a wicked woman. Like Edward’s brother Wallace. He wants to see Abitha stuck in the stocks in the town square because she's not a righteous woman. But like I said, Edward is the greenest of green flags and he’s always going to be there for Abitha. Until he’s not cause he dies in chapter two. Whoops! Spoiler!

Now Abitha is a widow, her brother-in-law is trying to take her farm away from her and make her his indentured servant. We hate Wallace in this house. Sadly it seems like he’s going to win. Abitha’s farm is failing, she’s a woman all alone in ye olden days, and it looks like she won’t be able to make the final payment on the farm to officially make it hers. There is only one way she can save her farm: witchcraft. And there’s only one person who can help her: Slewfoot, the ancient, dark spirit who has just reawakened in the deep woods. Together these two can save the farm, and raze the village should they so choose.

Oh! My! God! I love this book! The characters, the world, the imagery, the gothic vibes and dark folklore; it’s all delicious. I do not have the words to describe the utter perfection that is Slewfoot. The story is filled with gorgeously grotesque imagery and an atmosphere that makes readers feel like they are trapped in the same oppressive world as Abitha.

Speaking of Abitha, we need to talk about her next cause I love her. I saw a review of Slewfoot which says this book is the epitome of “I support women’s rights and women’s wrongs,” and I have to parrot that statement. Abitha is a character who society has othered, she’s a character I supported right from the get-go. Girly is fighting for her life–physically, mentally, and spiritually–which makes her character arc all the more satisfying.

Abitha is just *chef's kiss*

She begins this story as an already strong person. Despite the oppressive community she’s in, she’s not scared to speak her mind when she knows she’s in the right. Despite the very real possibility she could be arrested for witchcraft, she sells tinctures, salves, and charms to others in the community; mostly before and after the required church services. A queen. A baller. Like I said, she begins the story with a strong personality. But she quickly becomes broken. She loses her husband, her brother-in-law is trying to control her, and she only has herself looking out for her. It is so satisfying to watch her claw her way out of the oppression she’s found herself in and bask in her female rage. Her story is one of learning her self-worth and finding her inner power; both literally and metaphorically.

Let’s talk about power now, cause that what this book is truly about. It’s about those who hold it, how they wield it for their own gain, how it changes people, and the fight between those who wish to hold it. Power is seductive and it’s the story’s true villain. Yes, the villain isn’t Samson, Abitha, or even Wallace; it’s power. And the subject is masterfully discussed as it is never discussed and instead shown from the first page all the way to the end. I've read far too many books that focus on the same exact same topic, but fail at making their point because the author is too heavy handed in the matter. Slewfoot isn't like that, and I applaud it. 

Everything about this read is gloriously gothic, disturbing in the best way possible, and the illustrations Brom painted are grotesque, unsettling, and haunting. I love this book. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of this read. If you are a fan of gothic literature and/or enjoy your reads to have some folklore horror, then this read is perfect for you. Slewfoot is an immaculate novel that bewitched me right from the start.

This book got me real excited for Spooky Season.

With that, I must bid you all adieu. I shall see you all again next week with another great post. If you can’t wait that long then you can always check out my podcast Nothing to See Hear. It stars me and two of my dearest friends as we talk everything from Disney and Scooby-Doo to haunted houses and weird moments/people in history, and everything in-between; there’s bound to be something that strikes your fancy.

Until next time, stay safe, wash your hands, and read some good books for me. 

See y'all then, bye!